The Reclamation Initiative | The Coaching Career of Nico Augustine

[Caesar]

[djp73]

CMC…

[The JZA]

Got Oklahoma out the way, easy path to Natty's

[Captain Canada]

Closer than expected but win and advance. Cheeseman needs to step it up a level these playoffs.

Agreed, but that run game was really pacing us well. We were able to suffocate them to death.

CMC…

Swiss Army Knife

Got Oklahoma out the way, easy path to Natty's

I don't know, I can't imagine any of these games as easy at this point

[redsox907]

you were pretty ambiguous with just saying the SEC and not putting a name on that bullet

I say Nico gone

[Captain Canada]

Mustangs will have to make run without Volson, running back to miss the remainder of season
By Cheryl Smith

DALLAS – The SMU Mustangs managed to slip past a strong Oklahoma Sooners squad to win the Cotton Bowl and continue their trip through the College Football Playoffs. But it did not come without a cost.

The Sooners took their pound of flesh in the form of star freshman running back Brian Volson.

Volson, one of SMU's prized recruits in last year's class, was well on his way to get to a 1,000-yard rushing season when a second quarter collision with Oklahoma's star MIKE linebacker Kevin Burns. Volson attempted to return later in the quarter, but only subbed in for one more play before he went to SMU's locker room, never returning.

Coach Nico Augustine confirmed that Volson had torn his labrum and is not expected to return for the remainder of the season - a major shot to the number one team in the nation. Their high-octane offense, featuring Heisman-winning quarterback Alonzo Cheeseman, was paced by Volson's steady running and ability to eat up yardage on early downs.

The team will not pivot to sophomore Justice Spielman and Cal McCalebb, who was the star in his relief against Oklahoma, scoring two touchdowns and almost hitting the century mark in yardage. The team awaits who they will be facing next week between Pittsburgh and Arizona State.

[Captain Canada]

College Football Playoffs: Quarterfinals Review
ESPN Writer

38 32

Player of the Game: WR Donte Trahan - 7 catches, 145 receiving yards, 2 touchdwons

Summary
The Panthers pull off the upset in a 38-32 victory to take on SMU for the third time this season, after losing in the regular season and the ACC championship game. Powered by an excellent outing from quarterback Ify Cashman to the tune of 335 passing yards and three touchdowns (and one interception, but we don't need to talk about all that), Cashman added another one on the ground late in the fourth quarterback to push the lead out to far for Arizona State to catch up to.

In a losing effort, Julian Lewis put on a fine performance, leading a fiery comeback attempt for the Sun Devils, throwing for 342 passing yards and three touchdowns with an interception in his final collegiate game. He added 47 yards on the ground, but the Sun Devils' defense just couldn't quite keep up with the Panthers' relentless passing dominance.

24 31

Player of the Game: HB Cal McCalebb - 19 carries, 89 rushing yards, touchdown, 5 catches, 40 receiving yards, touchdown

Summary
The Oklahoma Sooners gave it all they could, including a two-touchdown third quarter that pushed the No. 1 Mustangs to the brink, but SMU manages to pull it out late behind the miraculous play of third-string running back Cal McCalebb. Sooners quarterback Nick Lopes played a nearly perfect game, completing 86% of his passes and throwing for three touchdowns on an excellent SMU defense. However, Heisman winner Alonzo Cheeseman outdueled him with three touchdowns of his own, while McCalebb ran for 89 rushing yards and added 40 more through the air.

This sets up a third meeting between ACC rivals Pittsburgh and SMU in the semi-finals.

26 21

Player of the Game: WR Dontae Biddle - 5 catches, 58 receiving yards, 2 touchdowns

Summary
The Hoosiers continue their dominant run, scoring 19 unanswered points against the #3 Ohio State Buckeyes, overcoming a 21-7 deficit going midway into the third quarter to win the game 26-21, moving onto the next round. Quarterback Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele struggled this time around compared to his dominant outing last round when the Hoosiers slapped the Florida Gators out of the playoffs, only throwing a meager 142 passing yards and two interceptions, completing only half of his passes. Even last week's player of the game, running back Niles Redwine, only got 9 carries, but still averaged an impressive 9.4 yards per carry. A key interception from cornerback Ezekiel Queen proved to be the straw that broke the camel's back for Ohio State.

Buckeyes quarterback Spencer Lewis performed admirably with 280 yards through the air and two touchdowns, but the offense never seemed to flow well from the get-go, drying up when it was needed most.

24 28

Player of the Game: WR Jay Pool - 14 catches, 194 receiving yards, touchdown

Summary
It was a tail of two halves for the USC/Alabama matchup, after the Trojans stormed out in the first half to a 17-7 lead before a key third quarter saw the Crimson Tide roar back with two touchdowns of their own. USC just couldn't quite recapture the magic of their hot start, sputtering to the end to drop their playoff matchup against Alabama, 28-24. Crimson Tide quarterback Keelon Russell threw for an astonishing 430 passing yards and also scored a touchdown on the ground. Wide receiver Jay Pool was the game-changing element, proven unstoppable to the tune of 14 catches, 194 receiving yards and a score. His teammate, Enrique Thrash, proved equally formidable with 9 catches and 132 receiving yards.

On the other side of things, senior USC quarterback Matthew Leo-Ioane had the game of his life with 265 passing yards and two scores, but the relentless Alabama pass rush managed to get to him five times, which proved too much for him. The running game was shunted as well, as Joe Pappoe only got 32 yards on eight carries.

Alabama will go on to take on Indiana in the Sugar Bowl.

[redsox907]

it should be illegal to have to face a team for the 3rd time in the CFP

[Captain Canada]

it should be illegal to have to face a team for the 3rd time in the CFP

It's fine, it'll be the same result all the same

[Captain Canada]

Thursday, January 10, 2029 | Rose Bowl (Pasadena, CA)

---

Rose Bowl Game Preview: vs #5 Pittsburgh (12-3, 6-2)

SMU Team Stats
Points: 47.1
Points Allowed: 16.6
Total Sacks: 80
Red Zone Conv.: 55%
Turnover Diff.: +18

Pittsburgh Team Stats
Points: 35.0
Points Allowed: 22.8
Total Sacks: 37
Red Zone Conv.: 52%
Turnover Diff.: +2

Pittsburgh 2029 Schedule
Wk 1 -- W 45-7 vs Delaware
Wk 2 -- L 45-27 vs West Virginia
Wk 3 -- W 48-7 at UCF
Wk 4 -- W 42-7 vs FCS School
Wk 5 -- W 14-3 at Virginia
Wk 6 -- W 38-26 vs Louisiana
Wk 7 -- W 48-17 at Boston College
Wk 8 -- W 45-27 at NC State
Wk 9 -- L 52-6 vs SMU
Wk 10 -- W 34-20 vs Florida State
BYE
Wk 12 -- W 27-17 at North Carolina
Wk 13 -- W 35-21 vs Virginia Tech
Conf. Champ -- L 51-34 vs #1 SMU
CFP Rd 1 -- W 44-10 vs #12 California
CFP Rd 2 -- W 38-32 vs #4 Arizona State

SMU Impact Players
QB Alonzo Cheeseman, Rs Fr -- 4,428 passing yards | 51 touchdowns, 8 interceptions | 75% completion percentage | 769 rushing yards, 10 touchdowns
TE Dwayne Kasay, Rs Jr -- 69 catches | 1,012 receiving yards | 14.7 AVG | 8 touchdowns | 9 drops
FS Esteban Brewer, Rs Jr -- 102 tackles | 14 tackles for loss | 5.5 sacks | 2 interceptions | 11 pass breakups | forced fumble

Pittsburgh Impact Players
QB Ify Cashman, Rs Fr -- 5,195 passing yards | 42 touchdowns, 17 interceptions | 63% completion percentage | 467 rushing yards, 11 touchdowns
HB Jay Griggs, Jr -- 253 carries | 1,285 rushing yards | 5.1 AVG | 9 touchdowns
WR Donte Trahan, Rs So -- 89 catches | 1,459 receiving yards | 16.4 AVG | 11 touchdowns

Injury Report
SMU: OT Mohammed Iwuoma (Torn Pectoral) - Out for season | C Leati Higgins (Torn Pectoral) - Out for season | HB Brian Volson (Torn Labrum) - 3 weeks
Pittsburgh: DT C.J. Prosinski (Dislocated Elbow) - 3 weeks

Key Matchup
CB Manu Hook. vs WR Donte Trahan